On April 17, an explosion north of Denver killed two men. Gas leaked from a nearby flowline and into the house they were in. Governor Hickenlooper has since given oil and gas operators around the state 30 days to check thousands of wells and miles of pipeline.

Producer Christin Kay speaks with reporter Wyatt Orme about what this means locally.

Activists across the country marked President Trump’s 100th day in office with marches to protest the administration’s stance on climate change, but the oil and gas industry is applauding Trump’s actions to cut back environmental regulations.

U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell joined Gov. John Hickenlooper at the state capitol Thursday to announce a decision that protects the Thompson Divide, but leaves other areas open to drilling.

Representatives from the Western Energy Alliance, which represents over 300 oil and gas companies in the western United States, are praising election victories by Republican candidates Donald Trump and Scott Tipton. Environmental groups fear impacts from expanded development. Aspen Public Radio’s Elizabeth Stewart-Severy spoke with the Western Energy Alliance’s Kathleen Sgamma about potential effects of this election on the oil and gas industry.

Wilderness Workshop Conservation Director Will Roush outlines the two guiding principles the organization uses to conduct their work in protecting the lands of the White River National Forest and surrounding areas. Peter Hart, Conservation Analyst and Staff Attorney, also contributes to the conversation. Roush and Hart discuss the Thompson Divide and the BLM's decision to cancel 25 oil and gas leases on the Divide, and the organization's work in forest restoration and water.

Oil and gas companies pay a tax to the state for the minerals they extract out of the ground. Colorado then gives some of that money back to local communities impacted by the drilling process. But a recent state Supreme Court ruling says companies have been overpaying these severance taxes – and now Colorado owes the industry tens of millions of dollars. Bente Birkeland has more.

Oil and gas organizers hope to put two oil and gas-related questions on the fall ballot. A handful of local activists are part of the effort, which is receiving more attention after a recent state supreme court decision.

Congressman Scott Tipton wants to introduce legislation that would exchange leases on the Thompson Divide for new drilling rights near Paonia and Rangeley — a plan that’s nearly identical to a proposal by the oil and gas industry last year.

Oil and gas companies are deciding how to respond to the BLM’s expected decision about leases on the Thompson Divide. The West Slope Colorado Oil and Gas Association is working with about eight companies directly affected by a pending BLM decision.